Match-box holder.



W. J. LEARY.

MATCH BOX HOLDER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY s1, 191s.

1,090,995.. Patented Mar.24,1914

/NvENToH T/Vlfla'am 2f- Leary COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

WILLIAM J'. LEARY, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

.MATCH-BOX HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 31, 1913.

Patented Mar. 2a, 1914. Serial N0. 770,815.

To aZZwLom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. LEARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Box Holders, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to improvements in match box holders, the object of the invention being to provide a convenient holder for match boxes and particularly for safety matches in general use.

A further object is to provide a neat and ornamental holder` which will prevent the boxes from opening accidentally in the pocket, but which will when operated, position the drawer of the box so as to facilitate the removal of a match.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be manufactured and sold at an extremely low price, and which may be made of various material and ornamented in various ways to suit the trade.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section illustrating one of the box holding springs, and Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the spring catch.

l represents a rectangular casing which may be made of metal, wood, leather, or any suitable material, and which is provided in opposite sides with slots 2 so as to expose the surface of the match box 3 and permit a match to be rubbed thereagainst in lighting. One end 4 of the casing 1 is closed, while the other end is open, but normally closed by a cover 5 which is hinged at one edge as shown at 6, and at its other edge is provided with a spring catch 7. This spring catch may be made in various ways. I have illustrated a simple construction in which the catch is provided with a lug 8 which projects through an opening in the wall of casing l, and which may be readily depressed to allow the cover to swing open. A pressure plate 9 is located inside the casmg, and is connected by a coiled spring l() with the inner end 4 of the casing, so that said spring exerts a constant outward pressure on plate 9. area than the end area of an ordinary match box illustrated at 3, so that it can move inside of the box, but bear against the end of the match containing drawer, so that it pushes the drawer ll against the cover 5.

Beveled spring catches l2 are secured by rivets 13 to the inner faces of the sides of casing l adjacent cover 5. These beveled spring catches have shoulders 14. at their free ends formed by bending the catches, and openings l5 are provided in the casing to permit these tongues 14 to swing out of the way of the box when the latter is being insertedin the casing. In other words, the box may be readily slid into the casing and in its inward movement will force these spring catches out of the way, but when the box reaches its normal position inside the casing, the catches l2 will spring out and engage the ends of the box, but will not move far enough to engage the drawer of the box. It will therefore be noted that the pressure of the plate l0 against the drawer will only tend to open the drawer as the box is held within the casing by the spring catches l2. When the catch 8, therefore, is released, spring l0 will force the drawer 1l longitudinally, compelling the cover 5 to Hy open and the drawer of the box to slide out a distance suiiicient to permit the ready removal of a match. The closing of cover 5 returns the drawer to its former position and holds the matches securely in the casing and box.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and altei-ations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my I claim as new and desire to ters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular casing having a hinged door normally closing one end of the casing, said casing adapted to receive a box having a sliding drawer therein, inwardly invention, what secure by Lethaving a sliding drawer ing a plate projecting spring catches in the sides of the casing adjacent the hinge door, said catches normally projected inwardly a distance approximating the thickness of the material of the box and bearing against the end of the box, holding the latter against outward movement, and a spring-pressed device in the inner end of the casing bearing against the drawer, substantially as described.

4U2, A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular casing having a hinged door normally closing one end of the casing, said casing adapted to receive a box therein, inwardly projecting spring catches in the sides of the casing adjacent the hinge door, said catches normally projected inwardly a distance approximating the thickness of the material of thevbox and bearing against the end of the box, holding the latter against outward movement, a spring-pressed device in the inner end of the casing bearing against the drawer, said spring-,pressed device comprislocated against the end of the drawer with a coiled spring between the plate and the end of the box, and a catch normally holding. the door in closed position, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a rectangular casing, and a rectangular match box in the casing having a sliding drawer, said casing having a hinged cover at one end, and a catch' holding the cover in yclosed position, spring catches secured within the casing, and bearing againstthe end of the box, said last-mentioned catches positioned at an angle permitting the box to bevinserted. in the casing and springing into position against the end of the box, aplate at the inner end of the casing bearing against'the end o the match box drawer, and a spring between said plate and the end of the casing, substantially as described. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. LEARY.

Witnesses z ELLIOTT WATSON, WALTER W. LYLE.

Uopies of this patent may 'ne obtained for ive cents; each, by addressing-the Y Washington, ID. C.

commissioner of ritieni; 

